Environmental management and waste crises impact Montenegro and Croatia

waste management environmental protection illegal waste disposal sanitation plan natural area protection

In Montenegro, the municipality of Herceg Novi is developing management plans to protect the Savinska Dubrava area and Plava špilja. Following an environmental agency report, officials aim to establish sustainable protection mechanisms for these sites, focusing on flora conservation while respecting private property rights.

In Croatia, significant waste management issues are unfolding across multiple locations. In Gospić, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has released a comprehensive 18-month sanitation plan for the PPK Velebit site to address illegal waste disposal. This follows investigations into a network that allegedly earned millions through illegal dumping, which has also raised concerns regarding PFAS contamination in groundwater.

Additionally, in Pazin, officials are debating the costs of cleaning up approximately 13,000 tons of waste, primarily plastic, textile, and rubber, that arrived from Italy between 2019 and 2020. The estimated cleanup cost exceeds 8 million euros, with local leaders calling for the state to bear the full financial burden since the waste was not produced locally.

Entities

Croatian Institute of Public Health · Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund · Gospić · Herceg Novi · Kostak - graditeljstvo · Marija Vučković · Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition · Pazin · The Guardian

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The remediation process is expected to be completed within 18 months.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The total cost of remediation is estimated at approximately 40 million euros if waste is pre-treated on-site.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Thirteen people were arrested in early 2025 for organized crime and illegal waste import from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Environmental monitoring will continue for five years following the remediation.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Official analyses confirmed the presence of toxic PFAS chemicals in groundwater near the Gospić site.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A detailed four-phase remediation plan for illegal waste in Gospić has been released.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Temporary waste covering at the PPK Velebit site in Gospić commenced on September 23, 2026.
[● 4 SOURCES] The fourth phase, involving the disposal of approximately 6,000 tons of waste, cannot begin for another six months. ogportal.com · www.dnevno.hr · glas-slavonije.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] Minister Marija Vučković stated that all four phases of the remediation can realistically be completed within 18 months. ogportal.com · www.dnevno.hr · glas-slavonije.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] Environmental monitoring is scheduled to continue for five years after the remediation process. ogportal.com · www.dnevno.hr · glas-slavonije.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] A draft law on waste shipments has been introduced to ensure full traceability of cross-border waste movement.
[● 4 SOURCES] Remediation costs for nearly 33,000 tons of waste are estimated at 40 million euros if on-site pre-treatment is used. ogportal.com · www.dnevno.hr · glas-slavonije.hr